By Orin
DavidsonJuly 13th, 2000(Comment Below)
The United States faced two opponents on Saturday and duly beat
the rain and the Cayman Islands to notch their fourth victory at
the International Cricket Council’s Under-19 Americas championship.

However they
would’ve preferred five wins, as they saw Canada lift the
championship trophy for the first time in three competitions, with
a 100 percent five wins record at the Maple Leaf cricket facility
on the outskirts of Toronto.

In whipping
Cayman Islands by staggering 201-run margin, the 2005 champions
amended somewhat for losing the previous day to Canada, which made
the difference between them being runners up and champions.

Nevertheless
America left Canada with the opportunity for revenge against the
home team as the two top finishers have advanced to the 10-team
World Cup qualifying competition set for September once again in
Canada at Maple Leaf.

America completed
the lone full victory, clinched on a rain affected day in which
Canada and the Bahamas had to settle for run rate-wins.

Seconds before
a vicious rain storm sent players, officials and spectators scampering
for cover and tents flying in the gusts, Salim Jammali ran out the
last Cayman Islands batsman to secure the victory in an encounter
reduced to 35 overs after heavy morning rain delayed start of play
by four and a half hours.

The U.S. batsmen
then wasted little time in tearing into a disinterested Cayman bowling
attack to amass 226 runs for seven wickets in their allotted 35
overs.

The Cayman team
with only two wins in the competition handed the match to America
on a platter as their batsmen were unable to muster even a smidgen
of fight and crumbled to the lowest score of the competition of
65 in 28 overs. Cayman’s limp response was made worse because
they were competing in a game made shorter by 15 overs as opposed
to the regular 50.

Captain Shiva
Vishashat led the onslaught for the U.S. team, slamming 63 and was
well supported by Henry Wardley who stroked 44 at the top of the
order.

Gregory Sewdial
did not follow-up with another big score but his attacking approach
so demoralized the Cayman attack, it softened the bowlers for Vishashat
and others who followed. All the Cayman bowlers felt the wrath of
the United States batting with John Tweedie ending with 2-44.

The Americans
were taking no prisoners in the event of a upset on the other side
of the Maple Leaf grounds where Bermuda could not produce the shock
of the tournament, that would’ve left three teams with identical
records where net run rate would’ve determined the winners
and runners-up, as hosts Canada cantered home to a deserved victory
on a superior net run rate.

Having established
a scoring rate of 6.24 runs per over, the America considerably boosted
their net run rate by demolishing the Cayman batting lineup for
65 runs in 28 overs.

Yash Shah was
in devastating form, as his left arm orthodox spin produced figures
of three wickets for seven runs. Vishashat and Azrudeen Mohamed
helped clean up the line with 2-7 and 2-1 respectively.

Zachary McLaughlin
made close to half the Cayman total with 23 and Darren Cato with
14 were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

They came and
conquered four out of five opponents but the United States can nevertheless
celebrate their passage to the next round.

When they return
again in September for the qualifiers America should be better equipped
to handle the conditions and the opposition.

It was good
lesson too in strategy for their coaching staff.Send
your commentOrin Davidson Column Homepage
CommentsI will
like to see comprehensive details about the programs which are in
place to keep the US youth team in shape and to prepare them for
the final round of qualifying. Also I am such there is room for
improvement. I hope the focus is not on the current 14 but also
an additional 6 members to keep up the competitiveness in the team.
All the best to the Players for the rest of the summer. By Dyon Ravello, July 13, 2009